SUSTAINABLE FORESTS: GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND LOCAL SOLUTIONS
           Hosted by the Prince Albert Model Forest Association

A chance to meet internationally-recognized leaders in forest
sustainability.

You are invited to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to hear and speak with
researchers, resource managers and forest inhabitants from around the
world -- individuals whose thinking will influence the future of the
world s forests.


Dates:

May 29 to June 1, 1995


Place:

The Delta Bessborough Hotel
601 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7K 3G8
Tel: (306) 244-5521 Fax: (306) 653-2458


Purpose:

The conference will provide for the exchange of knowledge on
sustainability aspects of the world s forests. Each aspect will be
discussed in light of demographic changes and the world s growing
demands for forest resources. People will also share their experiences
of working toward forest sustainability at the local level. The meeting
will consist of three days of technical sessions and a one day field
tour of the Prince Albert Model Forest midway in the conference.


Conference Organizers:

The conference is organized by the Prince Albert Model Forest with the
support of Canada s Model Forest Network, the Canadian Forest Service
and the University of Saskatchewan. The Partners of the Prince Albert
Model Forest Association include the Canadian Institute of Forestry,
Federation of Saskatchewan First Nations, Montreal Lake Cree Nation,
Parks Canada, Prince Albert Grand Council, Saskatchewan Environment and
Resource Management and Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.

For further information contact:

     Dr. Thomas Bouman
     Prince Albert Model Forest Association Inc.
     Box 2406, Prince Albert, SK
     CANADA S6V 7G3
     Telephone: (306) 922-1944
     Fax:       (306) 763-6456

The conference agenda and registration form as well as information on
the poster session and field tours are available by connecting with the
Model Forest Program Internet gopher server at:

     mf.ncr.forestry.ca

Kedves Kornyeszek!
Nem tudom, hogy nagy es okos emberek (Ti) bolcs mondasai mellet mennyire
erdekel Titeket az en szereny velemenyem, de azert leirom. A kovetkezo
nehany sor Lantos Ur es Csuszi nemregiben megjelent irasai nyoman szuletett,
tehat Ok vegyek valasznak.
Talan olvastatok rovid eletrajzomat nemregiben, a lenyeg az, hogy most eppen
az USA-ban tanulok, Coloradoban. Nemregiben egy honapot toltottem
Californiaban. Lantos Ur mondanivalojanak a lenyege, ha jol hamoztam ki
szavaibol, hogy jelentos szociologiai-mentalis-tarsadalmi valtozasok nelkul
nem tudunk jelentos eredmenyeket elerni kornyezetunk megovasa erdekeben.
Ezzel nagyon egyetertek, es szeretnek egy peldat felhozni. Californiat.
Kozismert, hogy az eletszinvonal nem alacsony arrafele, a fogyasztoi
tarsadalom "aldasait" is fenekig kielvezhetik az ottaniak, azonkivul a
gondolkodasmodjuk is az egyik leghaladobb a vilagon, nagyon fogekonyak az uj
dolgokra (a merketingesek Mekkaja!). Az egyetlen pelda, amit fel akarok
hozni, az a szelektiv hulladekgyujtes. Tudom, hogy azert nem kell olyan
messzire menni, de ez most egy friss elmeny szamomra. Ahol jartam, mindenhol
negyfele gyujtottek a hulladekot, tenyleg hihetetlenul keves nem
ujrahasznosithatot produkaltak. (Reszletekrol kerdezzetek Dianat, oneki
elsokezbol vannak informacioi) Ugyanakkor itt Coloradoban (kozep-nyugat,
konzervativ kornyek) gyakorlatilag senki se gyujti a hulladekat szelektiven,
pedig a lehetoseg megvan ra! Ezt egyertelmuen a tarsadalmi hagyomanyok,
es gondolkodasmod szamlajara irom. Es ami a legerdekesebb, lehet, hogy nem
megfelelo emberekkel talalkoztam itt, de nem is erdekli oket.
Tehat a lenyeg, amit el szeretnek mondani: Szerintem ezt az egeszet ket
felekeppen kell megfogni. A gazdalkodo szervezeteket igenis lehet
valamennyire adminisztrativ intezkedesekkel felelos magatartas fele
szoritani. De a lenyegi attores akkor kovetkezik be, ha az emberek kezdenek
maskent gondolkodni. Es ahhoz, hogy ez a folyamat beinduljon, ket dolog
kell. Az egyik a lehetoseg a cselekvesre. A masik, hogy a tarsadalom
szellemi vezetoi, olyan emberek, akiknek a velemenyere az emberek adnak,
akiknek a viselkedeset mintanak tekintik, kozeleti szemilyisegek, tanarok,
stb. megfeleloen viselkedjenek. Az oktatasi rendszerunket is at kene
alakitani valamennyire, mert igenis, jelentos hatasa van a
szemilyisegfejlodesre, ha maskent nem is, de az ismetlesen keresztul.
Sajnos, nekem szemely szerint nagyon rosz tapasztalataim vannak, kulonosen a
felsooktatasrol (ugye, ezek a frissebbek). En, mint gepeszmernok-palanta,
soha nem hallottam volna, ha nem lennek kornyesz, hogy egy gepet keves
hulladekkal es energiaval kell megcsinalni (nem gazdasagi, hanem kornyezeti
szempontbol), azonkivul elobb-utobb szemetre kerul, es akkor mi lesz vele?
A masik, ami viszont remenytkelto, hogy termektervezo kollegaim, akik
szerintem a legjobbak es akikkel egyutt dolgozom, mindanyian kuzdenek egy
komoly lelkiismereti problemaval. Nevezetesen, hogy a fogyasztasi cikkek,
amiket meg fogunk tervezni, gyakorlatilag egybol (na jo, nehany ev
kesessel), a szemetre kerulnek. Mi ugy probaljuk feloldani ezt, hogyha benne
leszunk a rendszerben (tervezunk majd megvalosulo termeket), akkor majd
megprobalhatunk valamit valtoztatni. A gond az, hogy mar most tisztan
latszik, hogy a gazdalkodok rovid tavu gazdasagi erdeke ellentmond az
emberisseg hosszu tavu erdekeinek, es az internalizalas problemait Ti is
ismeritek. Azonkivul, nem elkeseriteskeppen, de a jelentos szemleleti
valtozasok hosszu idot vesznek igenybe. Peldam most az evolucios elmeletek.
Sajnos, megint jo alaposan levizsgazom, de nem tudom pontosan, mikor jelent
meg Charles bacsi muve. Mindenesetre nem ma. Es mikorra fejtette ki
teljesen hatasat az emberek gondolkodasmodjara? Szerintem a masodik
vilaghaboru kornyeken. Mondjuk, negy generacio? Az igaz, hogy az
informacioaramlas nem volt olyan gyors akkoriban, meg nehezebben jutott el
szelesebb retegekhez, de itt is a szellemi vezetok a lenyeg. Es nem a szavak,
hanem az eszme (gondolatvilag) altal athatott cselekves. Azonkivul az is
nyilvanvalo, hogy az emberekhez nem eleg eljuttatni az informaciot, azt fel
is kell fogni es tudatositani. Egy pelda: Egy atlagos amerikai
erzekszerveihez napi 5-600 hirdetes jut el. Es mennyire emlekszik masnap?
Talan egy fel tucatra.
Most hirtelen ennyi jutott eszembe. Koszonom a turelmeteket, hogy
vegigszenvedtetek ezt a kis cikket. Udv es minden kozhelyeket:
ZP

From: 
MOCHOVCE PROJECT  UNSAFE, DOCUMENTATION INADEQUATE,
PKE TELLS ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION, Part 2


1)Reactor Pressure Vessel Integrity

Reactor Pressure Vessel integrity has been recognised as a concern in 
VVER230, VVER213, and VVER320/1000reactors for a number of years, by Soviet 
as well as western analysts. Problems with RPV integrity due to neutron 
embrittlement of the steel of the pressure vessel is also recognised as a 
problem in older US and French PWRs, and at least one US plant has been 
denied an extended plant licence as a result of these concerns.  Fracture 
of the reactor pressure vessel is the greatest catastrophe that can happen 
to a PWR or VVER reactor. It would result in the complete destruction of 
the reactor core, whose contents would be ejected under pressure . Even in 
plants with a full western - style containment, such an accident would 
probably breach the containment, resulting in a large-scale release of 
radioactivity to the environment, a Chernobyl - like event. In the case
of VVER reactors, which lack full containment, the results would be even 
more serious.   

(...)
The US Department of Energy (DOE), hardly a hotbed of nuclear critics, in a 
September 1989 analysis of VVER safety [DOE/NE0086, 1.5, 3.2] provides the 
kind of account of the VVER embrittlement problem that should have been in 
the Mohovce EIA and Safety Report.

According to the DOE, neutron embrittlement is a problem in VVERs for a 
number of reasons, of which the main ones are the presence of trace copper 
and phosphorous impurities   in the steel of which the RPV is produced, 
[DOE NE/86, 1-5] a relatively large core size 
 coupled with a relatively small RPV size,
 (due to the fact that VVER RPVs are designed to be rail 
shipped), which has led to  a very small gap between 
 the core and the RPV wall, plus a 'hard'
 neutron spectrum due to the core geometry.

(...)
For example, it is possible to construct RPVs from a grade of 
steel known as 'AA' which is much less susceptible to 
embrittlement. Some VVER1000 RPVs are now made of 'AA' steel. 
[DOE NE/0086, 1-5] 
No mention is made in the EIA or Safety Report of the 
kind of material of which the Mohovce RPV is made. 
This is astounding, as even in the total absence of 
all documentation, the RPV itself could easily be sampled. 

It is also possible to anneal reactor pressure vessels 
that have already become embrittled,  using a Soviet 
technique already carried out on the Kozluduy plant 
in Bulgaria,  the Kola plant, and the now abandoned 
Greifswald plant in Germany. The annealing process 
involves heating the RPV  to a very high 
temperature  for a number of weeks, and cooling it very slowly.  
However, once the procedure has been 
done, embrittlement proceeds as before, 
and the process cannot be repeated indefinitely.

Finally, changes can be made to the core geometry 
that involve  replacing the outermost row of fuel 
assemblies by stainless steel 'dummies'. (...)

None of these issues are in any way addressed in the EIA,  
its Safety report, (...)
It is beyond belief that the material out of which the 
Mohovce RPV is made is not known, and its neutron 
embrittlement properties not well established by 
testing methods that have been known and used in 
both Russia and the US for 
a number of years.  

(...)
SEP's cavalier treatment of the issue of RPV integrity is shocking, and 
shows disrespect both for the EIA process, and the crucial goal of reactor 
safety.  The issue is far from trivial, as RPV failure is the greatest 
catastrophe that can happen to a PWR plant. 

2)Scram (Az) System
Almost as crucial (...)
 is the ability of the reactor to be shut down quickly in an
emergency.  This emergency shutdown, known in US and UK usage as a 'scram'  
is accomplished by the rapid insertion of neutron - absorbing control 
rods.  During an orderly and gradual shutdown or startup of the reactor, 
these rods are inserted or withdrawn in a specific sequence, which is 
controlled by software.  During an emergency shutdown, all rods are simply 
slammed into the core at once as fast as possible. Either by hydraulic
means, by electromagnetic means, by gravity, or a combination of the 
above. (...)

This (the present, using electric drive motors) arrangement is if anything
even less satisfactory than the original (gravity) one. Because of the
friction exerted by the drive motor, the rods fall far  too slowly.  Scram
insertion time for a VVER213 is about ten seconds, much longer than for other
reactors. In addition,"Any fault in the electrical system may cause failure
to scram, plus sustained rod withdrawal"[DOE NE0086 1-6]

In addition, the DOE analysis notes that that the control system and the Az 
system are interconnected, resulting in 'cross - talk' and erroneous 
signals to the Az system. [DOE NE/0086 2-1] This means that in an emergency 
situation, a scram could actually be reversed when it should not be, a 
potentially catastrophic possibility. 

Finally, the DOE notes that  there is a lack of redundancy in the Az 
system  as well as lack of protection from damage by fire, water, steam, 
etc.  
This means that the risk of failure of the system is relatively high. 


Few details are provided in the safety report either (...)
 SEP has already
provided  an 'improved' reactor protection system, but we are not told what 
it is nor indeed, whether this even means hardware or software.
(...)

3) Accident Localisation System
A third crucial issue in VVER reactors is the effectiveness of the 
'Accident Localisation System'(ALS). The ALS in VVER213 reactors is based 
on a system of hermetically sealed compartments  containing  the RPV  and 
steam - generators, with separate compartments for main coolant pumps, plus 
a 'bubbler condenser tower' intended to relieve pressure in the confinement 
area during a large accident. This is done by condensing steam in a series 
of water - filled trays, preventing the build-up of pressure in the 
concrete confinement that would threaten the integrity of that structure. 

V230 and 213 reactors do not have a full secondary containment. (...) In
addition, there is the 'bubbler condenser tower', containing 
water - filled trays designed to condense steam, and a spray system. 
However, serious questions exist about the structural integrity of the 
bubbler condenser tower during a serious loss of coolant accident.(LOCA).

A collapse of all or part of the bubbler - condenser tower during a serious 
accident such as LOCA or RPV fracture would result in the escape of large 
quantities of radioactive steam and gas.

(...)
 DOE did not do (...) particular analysis for the V213,
and the analysis that was done for the V213 assumed no problems with the 
structural integrity of the  'Bubbler Condenser Tower'. 

But it is increasingly clear that the tower's structural integrity cannot 
be relied on. (...)

The Riskaudit evaluation of the Bubble Condenser Tower (...)
concluding that the load - bearing capability of the structure (...)
 had 'yet to be proved', and that the
maximum design pressure for the tower was virtually the same with no margin 
for error,  as the pressure to which a LOCA would subject it. It was not 
spelled out whether by a LOCA, a cold - leg break, or complete RPV fracture 
was meant, but the maximum design accident for a V213 is a cold - leg 
break, so presumably that is what was meant. Complete RPV fracture would be 
beyond design basis and therefore even more severe. 

At one point, according to Riskaudit, "The maximum design pressure is 
expected to be exceeded already under best estimate conditions
(inclusive of consideration of flow compressibility through the check 
valves) without any safety margins" (...)


Conclusion
The three issues dealt with - RPV integrity, Scram system reliability, and 
the structural integrity of the bubbler condenser tower component of the 
accident localisation system are by no means the only safety issues that 
affect the Mohocvce plant. They are however, probably the most serious and 
pressing ones. (...)

An accident at Mochovce could be very serious indeed. The most serious 
accident that could possibly happen would be a complete fracture of the 
RPV, an event that in the case of the VVER 230 analysis conducted by DOE 
would have propelled the RPV head together with the control - rod drive 
assemblies out through the protective dome of the confinement system and 
out of the surrounding building, resulting in a core meltdown with 
immediate release of radiation to the environment.  Such an event would 
produce a plume of radiation as long as 1000Km, that would affect all of
 Northern Slovakia and would blanket the whole of southeast Poland. 

A 'cold - leg LOCA' supposedly the design - basis accident for the VVER213, 
would be  contained only if the bubbler- condenser tower functioned exactly 
as designed. Since the indications are that parts of it would in fact 
collapse, a major release of radiation would also result from such an 
accident.  

The treatment of these issues reflects a standard of documentation and 
practice that, if reflected in the Mohovce project itself, means that the 
project should not be approved.

Tomasz Terlecki, Regional Campaigner
Multilateral Development Banks
Polish Ecological Club - National Board/Friends of the Earth - Poland
phone/fax: +48-12-21.88.52
ul. Pilsudskiego 8, 31-109 Krakow, Poland

List of Environment Related Events
                 in Central and Eastern Europe
           as of February 15, 1995, biweekly updates
         Compiled by the Regional Environmental Center


If you would like your event listed here,
send details to:
Ms. Nikoletta Nagy
Regional Environmental Center
Miklos ter 1
H-1035, Budapest, Hungary
tel:+361.250.3401
fax:+361.250.3403
e-mail: 

3/22/95
EUROPEAN BUSINESS INFORMATION CONFERENCE `95
EBIC is the meeting place for senior players in
the  information world who have an interest  in
information about business in Europe
Budapest, Hungary
Working languages: English
Contact: Tel: 44 171 251 5522 Fax: 44  171  251
8318  E-mail: 

4/5/95
WORKSHOP  ON DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL-SIZE  BOILERS
FOR INDUSTRIAL, HOUSEHOLD AND FARMING SECTORS
Coal     consumption,    clean    technologies,
implementation of technologies
Szczyrk, near Bielsko, Upper Silesia
Working languages: English, Russian, Polish
Contact: UN Economic, Commission for Europe Mr.
Slav  Slavov Palais des Nations,CH-1211  Geneva
10, Switzerland Tel: 41 22 9172444, Fax: 41  22
9170038  or Mr. Jerzy Prus  Tel: 48 32  583022,
Fax: 48-32 596533

4/10/95
THE INTERNATIONAL GAS CONGRESS
High  efficiency  appliances and  technologies,
environmental aspects and benefits  of  natural
gas use
Prague
Working languages:
Contact:   Mrs.   Olga  Solarikov ,   Executive
Secretary,   Czech  Gas  and  Oil  Association,
Sokolska  4,  120  00 Praha 2, Czech  Republic,
Tel.: +42 2 249 12955, Fax: +42 2 249 12955

5/28/95
10TH WORLD CLEAN AIR CONGRESS
Key  note speakers will represent a broad range
of    current   scientific   perspectives   and
addressing   the   various   session    topics,
opportunities  for opening up  markets  in  the
former EE countries.
Espoo, Finland
Working languages: English
Contact: POBox 151, Fin-00141 Helsinki, Finland

6/5/95
LAND  USE  CHANGES AND NATURE  CONSERVATION  IN
CENTRAL   AND   EASTERN  EUROPE,  INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE -
The  aim  of this meeting is to bring  together
environmentalists, scientists and land managers
in  order  to  facilitate  the  discussion  and
exchange  of  ideas  on  the  impact  of   land
reprivatisation on nature.
Palanga, Lithuania
Working languages: English
Contact: Dr. Pranas Mierauskas, Lithuanian Fund
for   Nature,   Juozapaviciaus  St.9,   LT-2600
Vilnius,  Lithuania; Tel./Fax:  +370  2  355957
(temporary)

6/6/95
2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, ECOLOGY OF DANUBE
Evaluate  ecological  and economic  development
for the Danube
Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Working languages: English
Contact:  City University Bratislava, Mudronova
47,  811 03 Bratislava, Slovak Republic,  Tel.:
+42 7 31 4466, Fax: +42 7 31 6978

6/11/95
SCIENTIFIC   CONFERENCE   "HOST   FACTORS    IN
ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY"
Environmental epidemiology, Region
Cracow, Poland
Working languages: English
Contact:  Conference Secretariat, 7,  Kopernika
str.,  31-034 Crakow, Poland Phone/fax: +48  12
228795, e-mail: 

6/12/95
GIS/LIS   '95  CENTRAL  EUROPE  -   THE   THIRD
INTERNATIONAL  CONFERENCE  AND  EXHIBITION   ON
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS/LAND INFORMATION
SYSTEMS FOR CEE
It  will  be a four day session of conferences,
workshops,  seminars and exhibition related  to
data   conversion,  database   management   and
standards,   desktop,  digital,  and   handheld
mapping    technologies,   environmental    and
resource management, GPS applications
Budapest, Hungary
Working  languages: English,  translation  into
Hungarian
Contact:   GIS/LIS  '95  Central   Europe   c/o
International   Secretariat,   P.O.Box    5738,
Bethesda,  MD 20814; Tel.: +301 951 0480,  Fax:
+301 951 0499

9/19/95
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND REMEDIATION IN CEE
Hazards,   Waste   control,  Monitoring,   Risk
Assessments
Budapest, Hungary
Working languages: English
Contact: Mervyn Richardson, B.A.S.I.C., 6 Birch
Drive,  Maple Cross, Rickmansworth, Herts,  WD3
2UL,  England, Tel.: +44 923 774187,  Fax:  +44
494 714516

9/25/95
I   REGIONAL  SYMPOSIUM:  CHEMISTRY   AND   THE
ENVIRONMENT
Will  include  lectures, round  table  sessions
about:   analytical  methods   and   monitoring
systems for pollutant determination, effects of
harmful  chemicals in the environment,  in-door
air   pollution,  radiochemical  contamination,
environmental chemistry
Vrnjacka Banja, Yugoslavia
Working languages: English
Contact:  Serbian Chemical Society, Karnegijeva
4,  11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Tel./Fax:  +381
11 187 133


__________________________________________________________________             
          
Ivelin Roussev                   Information Exchange Team 
Information Specialist           The Regional Environmental Center
e-mail:                Miklos ter 1
Phone:+(36-1) 250-3401           1035 Budapest                         
Fax:  +(36-1) 250-3403           Hungary
__________________________________________________________________